{"id":871,"date":"2017-06-15T16:02:30","date_gmt":"2017-06-15T16:02:30","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/simn-global.org\/?p=871"},"modified":"2017-06-15T16:02:30","modified_gmt":"2017-06-15T16:02:30","slug":"rights-mercy-for-the-children-unaccompanied-across-borders","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/simn-global.org\/sg\/rights-mercy-for-the-children-unaccompanied-across-borders\/","title":{"rendered":"Rights, Mercy for the Children Unaccompanied Across Borders"},"content":{"rendered":"

United Nations Human Rights Council<\/p>\n

Event 15 June 2017<\/p>\n

Migration in Central America: Migrants are not a danger, but are in danger<\/em><\/p>\n

Joint statement signed by:<\/em><\/strong>\u00a0| International Catholic Migration Commission – ICMC | Associazione Comunit\u00e0 Papa Giovanni XXIII | International Catholic Child Bureau (BICE-ICCB) | Compagnie des Filles de la Charit\u00e9 de Saint Vincent de Paul | Congregation of Our Lady of Charity of the Good Shepherd | Dominicans for Justice and Peace\u00a0<\/em>\u00a0(Order of Preachers)\u00a0<\/em>|\u00a0<\/em>International Movement of Apostolate in the Independent Social Milieus<\/em>\u00a0\u00a0– MIAMSI |\u00a0 New Humanity for a United World | Pax Romana ICMICA\/MIIC\u00a0| Association Points-Coeur\u00a0(Heart’s Home Association) | Scalabrini International Migration Network \u2013 SIMN |<\/em><\/p>\n

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Excellencies, partners,<\/p>\n

UNICEF reports that\u00a0between 2015 and\u00a02016, 300,000 children<\/strong>\u00a0worldwide<\/strong>\u00a0journeyed without parents through countries not their own, nearly five times more than between 2010 and 2011.[1]<\/a>\u00a0 Government reports indicate that\u00a075,000 of these children moved from El Salvador, Guatemala and Honduras[2]<\/a>.<\/strong>\u00a0But those reports only count the children who were apprehended! The real number is even higher.<\/p>\n

Many are fleeing war, generalized or gang violence, climate change, or lack of work or food in their home countries.\u00a0All are vulnerable.<\/strong>\u00a0From our work directly with the children, our organizations know that many\u2014many<\/em>\u2014are terribly treated by smugglers, traffickers and even authorities along the way. Tens of thousands are forced into detention and to return, only to try again, sometimes even three or four times!<\/p>\n

Pope Francis<\/strong>\u00a0urges us all,\u00a0\u201cLet our hearts be attentive and open to the pain of our neighbours, especially where children are involved.2<\/sup>\u201d<\/em>\u00a0Let us respond to the pain of the children on the move.\u00a0 The new Global Compact on Migration must include\u00a0practical, existing<\/strong>\u00a0mechanisms\u2014<\/strong>with\u00a0timelines for action that:<\/strong><\/p>\n